Dispensing system



June 18, 1946.

r. H. s wHALEY. JR

DISPENSING sY-sTEM.

Filed June 2s, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 \,..w`.\ x25. woo 20m... R. /u R J 4 o Y T E m m. o V H n m w A n.22. H. T.

June 18, 1946. y 1. H. -wHAu-zv, JR

DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 2 l June 18,1946. T,VH lWHALEY, ,R 2,402,355

inIsPENsING SYSTEM Filed June 21s, 1941 4 sheets-shet 4 1,', v eo INVENTOR T. H. WHALEY JR.

4 Patented June 18,

UNITED STATE DISPENSING SYSTEM Themas H. Whaley, Jr., Bartlesville, okla., assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation ot Delaware Application June 26, 1941, Serial No. 399,924

1 This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for dispensing volatile liquids. It is particularly adapted to the dispensing and metering of highly volatile or liqueiied petroleum gases.

Liqueed gases and volatile liquids, such as propane, butane, and mixtures thereof or including one or both are being marketed extensively for-use as motor and domestic fuels.A The volatile liquids are stored either above-ground or underground in suitable storage tanks from which they are transferred to fuel tanks or containers. In metering and dispensing volatile liquids and liquefied gases in the liquid state, considerable diliculty is sometimes experienced in determining the true volume of liquid dispensed. The piping and dispensing equipment are often sub- Jected to atmospheric temperature conditions and may attain temperatures higher .than that prevailing in the storage tank. The liquid being dispensed tends to partially vaporize when subjected to the increased temperature and the volume of fluid dispensed is thereby increased.

The use of displacement meters for measuring the volume of the liquid dispensed requires that certain precautions be observed to prevent .the increase in volume 'dueto vaporization in the. meters or conduits leading to the meters. The presence of vapors in lthe liquid results in false meter indications, the meter indicating a volume greater than the actual volume of liquid passing therethrough. Liquid meters, for example, meters of the positive displacement type, may be used successfully for metering volatile liquids and liquefied gases if the pressure at which the liquid is metered exceeds the vapor pressure corresponding to the temperature at which the liquid is metered.

The meters may be used with a pump and pressure regulator. Liquid to be dispensed is taken from the storage tank by -the pump and passed to the meter at increased pressure. A constant pressure in excess of the vapor pressure of the liquid is maintained at the discharge of the meter. For accuracy of measurement under all conditions, the pressure maintained onl the meter must exceed the maximuml vapor pressure which may exist in the meter. Such 'a system requires l that the pump and meter be operated at a. pressure much higher than that requiredfor normal operating .temperatures and consequently, much -power is wasted in pumping.' The system disliquids.

1s claims. (cl. sz-l) pressure and the pressure maintained on the meter exceeds the pressure in the storage tank by a y constant amount during pumping. The storage .tank may not always be subject to the same temperature conditions as the meter and the conduits between the storage tank and the meter. 'Ihis is particularly true if the storage tank is underground and the meter and piping are exposed to atmospheric temperatures. In accordance with thepresent invention, the metering pressure is determined by the vapor pressure of volatile liquid or liquefied gas subjected to the temperature conditions'existing at the meter.

An object of this invention is to provide animproved system for dispensing and metering volatile liquids.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for use in a system for dispensing Still another `object of this invention is to providea method and apparatus for accurately me tering volatile liquids and 'liquefied gases under variable temperature conditions. l

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a system for dispensing volatileliquids in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sections of apparatus suitable for use with the system of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectionv of an improved control valve for use in dispensing equipment.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectionof a modication of. i

th'e control valve of Figure 4.'

With reference to Figure l ofthe drawings, the

numeral 6 designates a pipe through which liquid lization of the liquid.v 'Ih'e control valve I0 pref--v erably comprisesa pressure differential operated motor valve of the diaphragm or similar type. Such valves are well known in theart and may be constructed andl adjusted to open -or close when the desired differential between two pressures is attained. The control valvelll controls the pressure at which Ithe meter is operated maintaining the meter pressure higher than the vapor pressure of the liquid being` metered by an amount suillcient to insure the absence of vapor in the meter.

The pressure at which metering is carried out is determined by the vapor pressure of a quantity of liquid having vapor pressure characteristics the same as or similar to the liquid dispensed and subjected to the same temperature conditions as the meter. This liquid will be referred to herein as the control liquid. The-control liquid is contained in a capsule I2 which may be at the meter inlet, at the outlet, or built into the meter itself. With reference to Figure 2, the capsule I2 is shown in a Y pipe fitting I3 associated with the pipe 8 of Figure 1.

moval or replacement of the capsule. The capsule is in communication with the control valve i through the pipe l5. The meter discharge pressure is communicated to the control valve I0 by the pipe I6.

The control liquid contained in the capsule may be the same as the liquid dispensed. In this instance the control liquid may be a sample of the liquid being dispensed and the vapor pressure of the control liquid is equal to the vapor pressure of the liquid being metered. The control valve used with this control liquid is one which requires a differential between the meter pressure and the vapor pressure exerted by the control liquid before the valve opens to allow liquid to ow through the conduit Il. The differential in pressure is sufllcientto prevent vapors of the liquid from existing at the metering temperature.

.A differential in pressures on the order of 5-10 pounds per square inch, for example, is sumcient. This is obtained in most conventional diaphragm type control valves by the action of a spring on the lower pressure side of the diaphragm; as an alternative, a pressure ratio regulator similar 'to that shown in the patent to Rosswell W. Thomas, 1,977,925,has been found suitable for use as the control valve. The pressure ratio regulator maintains a substantially constant ratio of metering pressure to the vapor pressure of the control liquid during the operation of the pump and meter., A. ratio of metering pressure to vapor pressure of the control liquid greater than unity is required to prevent vaporization in the meter if the control liquid is of the same composition or has the same vapor pressure characteristics as the liquid being dispensed.

The control liquid contained in the capsule may be more volatile than the liquid dispensed. Such a liquid exerts a vapor pressure greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid being dispensed. For example, ii the liquid being dis'- pensed is a mixture of 25% propane and' 75% n. butane, then the control liquid used might be 30% propane and 70% n. butane. Thevapor pressure of the latter mixture is 3 pounds per.

square inch higher than that of the former at 40% F. and 10 pounds .-per square inch higher greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid dispensed, assures accurate meter indications.

Fluid passing the pump 1 may be reutrned to storage through the pipe I1 which intersects the pipe 8 between the pump and the meter. regulator valve I8 interposed in the pipe l1 acts as a relief valve for the pump when no liquid is The capsule is attached to a reducing coupling i4 which facilitates re.

4 being metered through the meter 9. 'I'he regulator valve i8 opens to allow iuid from the discharge of the pump to pass through the pipe I1 when the 4pressure in the pipe 8 becomes excessive. Several types of valves are available for use as the regulator I8. These include differential-pressure regulators, back-pressure regulators, and relief or safety valves. A specific form of the regulator valve i8 forming a part of the present invention is shown in cross-section in Figure 3.

With reference to Figure 3 the regulator valve I8 comprises avalve body member i9 having a valve seat insert 20 therein. Attached to the valve body member, the bonnet 2l houses the valve stem 22, and cooperates. with the cover 23 to secure the diaphragm 24. Pressure from the upstream side of the valve is transmitted to the lower side of the diaphragm by the conduit 25. The upper side of the diaphragm, or the compartment contained between the cover 23 and the diaphragm, is in communication with the downstream side of the valve through the conduit 26. The backing plates 21 and 28 are securely clamped to the diaphragm by the bolt 2i! which extends through the diaphragm and backing plates and is screw threaded into the cylinder 30. The valve stem 22, to which the valve disk 3l is attached, extends through the guide 32 and into the cylinder 30, terminating in the piston '33. A compression spring 34, held in position in tending to open the valve by moving the valve disk 3| ofi the valve seat 20. The downward movement of the cylinder 30 and diaphragm backing plates is limited by the screw threaded ring 31. The upward movement of the cylinder and diaphragm is limited by the adjusting screw 38. The compression of the spring 36 may be adjusted by the screwthreaded plug 38 in the cover 23. The compression of the spring 34 may be adjusted by the screw threaded bushing I5 in the cylinder.

The regulator valve structure of' Figure 3 serves not only as a relief valve to prevent excessive pressures in the pipe 8, but serves also to eliminate vapors and incondensible gases from the pipe B, especially during pump starting perio when the pump discharge pressure is less than the pressure required to open the control valve l0. During periods in which the pump is idle. vaporization may occur in the pump and associated piping. When pumping is resumed. these vapors must'be purged to allow the pump to nil with liquid. Many pumps will develop very little dischargepressure when filled with vapors. The vapors must be eliminated from the pump and piping before the pump will develop a pressure head sumcient to eiect transfer oi' the liquid Economic loss and fire hazards result i! the vapors are allowed to escape to the atmosphere. The regulator of Figure 3 automatically releases fluid from pipe l to storage lthrough pipe il during those' periods in which the head developed by the pump is below a predetermined minimum.

When the pump is developing no pressure head. the regulator assumes the position shown in Figure 3 with the valve disk unseated. The amount by which the valve is opened during idle periods is governed'by thering Il or by adjustment o! the valve Il on the valvestem. When the pump is started, 'vapors pass'through the open valve and through the-pipe I1 to storage. During the priming period the pump develops very little pressure head and the valve is maintained open by the action of spring 35. When the pump is primed and the discharge piping iilled with liquid, the liquid begins to flow through the regulator. The opening between the valveldisk and valve seat is insuillcient to allow passage of the liquid at the capacity of the primed and properly operating pump with the result that the pressure rapidly increases in the pump discharge pipe 8. The pressure in the discharge pipe is transmitted to the lower or bonnet side 'of the diaphragm through the conduit 25 kand passage 40. When the pressure in the pump discharge piping ex' ceeds that in ther section of piping leading from valve I8 to the storage tank by an amount sumcient to cause compression of the spring 36, the valve closes. The diaphragm 24 moves upward against the action of the spring 36 moving the cylinder 30 and valve stem 22 to a position in which the valve disk 3| coacts with the valve seat 20 to close the valve. The upward moveinsures control at the metering temperature.'

ment of the diaphragm, cylinder, and valve stem is limited by the adjusting screw`38. If incondensible gases are contained in the liquid being dispensed, the gases may be eliminated from pipe 8 by allowing them to pass 'with some liquid through the regulator. This may be accomplished by adjustment of the regulating screw 38 to prevent seating of the .valve disk.' When excessive pressures are developed, the valve disk 3| is pushed away from the valve seat 20 against the action of the spring 34, allowing the valve to open. When the excessive pressure is relieved,

the spring 34 acting against the piston 33 returns the valve disk to normal operating position.

The control valve IIJ and capsule I2 of Figures 1 and 2 may be replaced by either of the control valves shown in Figures 4 and 5, forming a part of this invention. With reference to Figure 4 of the drawings, the numeral 4I designates the' valve body of the control valve containing a valve seat 42. Mounted on the valve body is a motor housing comprising the base 43 and thev top 44. The housing is divided by the diaphragm 45 which acts as the motor for operating the valve. The base 43 denes a fluid compartment 46 below the diaphragm while the top 44 deflnes a control compartment 41 above the diaphragm. The uuid compartment 46 is in communication with the interior of the valve body through the opening 43. The valve stein 49 is attached to the valve disk 5U and passes through the guide 5I. The diaphragm is secured to the valve stem by the clamping action of the backing plates` 52 and 53. The top 44 of the motor housing is closed "by the plug 54 and sealed by the gasket 55. The control compartment may be provided with the spring 56 and adjusting screw 51. The control liquid 6 sure in the iluid compartment must be suiilcient to force the diaphragm 45 upward against the action ofthe vapor pressure of thecontrol liquid and the spring 56, if used. The pressure drop across the valve disk 50 tends also to maintain the valve in closed position. When the pressure at the discharge side of the meter, transmitted to the iluid compartment through the opening 48, is suilicient to overcome the opposing forces, the valve stem and disk are raised by the diaphragm allowing the liquid to fiow through the control valve to the conduit II. When the pressure in the meter drops below that Adetermined by the vapor pressure of the control liquid, the lvalve closes. Heat exchange between the metered liquid and the control liquid in the control valve The control valve of Figure 4 makes unnecessary the use of a vcapsule and pipe of Figures 1 and 2.

With reference to Figure 5, the valve body 60 is provided with a valve seat 6I. Attached to the valve body is a motor housing comprising the base 62 and cover'63. Attached to the cover 63 is a Sylphon bellows 64 containing control liquid and vapor from thecontrol liquid. The valve stem 65 is connected to the Sylphon bellows and extends'through the valve body and the guide 66 into the spring compartment of the spring housing lil.l The spring 68, which is optional, is held contained in the capsule of Figure 2 is designated by the numeral 58 and is contained in the control compartment 41 ci the regulator.

In operation, the control valve of Figure 4 is placed near the meter outlet between the meter and conduit Il. The control valve is thereby subjected to the saine atmospheric temperature conditions as the meter. The vapor pressure oi the control liquid is exerted on the top of the dia" phragm ltending to seat the valve disk 50 and close the valve; The auxiliary spring 5S, which is optional, augments the vapor pressure of the control liquid in closing the valve. Before the control valve opens to allow metered liquid 'to be dispensed through the conduit I I, the presin place and slightly compressed by the adjusting nut 69. The spring supplements the vapor pres` used. In either Figure 4 or Figure 5 the springA may be omitted' if a control liquid more volatile than that of the dispensed liquid is used, or if the pressure drop across the valve disk is sutil-- cient to supplement the vapor pressure of the control liquid to the desired extent. Liquid from the 'meten entering the control valve has access to the motor housing and comes into contact with the Sylphon bellows. This eiects a heat transfer between the metered liquid and the control liquid insuring identical temperature conditions.

Various changes may be made in the structures` e described herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is to be understood that the back-pressures or meter pressures maintained by the control valves in this invention are determined by the vapor pressure of -a control liquid having vapor pressure characteristics similar to or identical with the liquid being controlled and subjected to the same temperature conditions.

The eiIect of auxiliary forces is to increase or decrease the controlled pressure over that corresponding to the vapor pressure of the control liquid.

I claim: l

l. 'I'he method of dispensing metered quanti- Y ties of a .volatile liquid under variable tempera'- ture conditions to prevent vaporization of the liquid during the metering' thereof comprising passing the liquid under pressure through a.

2. In av system for dispensing metered quantities of a volatile liquid, the combination comprising a pump, a liquid meter communicating with the discharge oi said pump, a container subjected to substantially the temperature of the meter and containing a volatile control liquid, and means responsive to the vapor pressure of the control liquid for determining the minimum pressure of said volatile liquid in the meter during the metering thereof and for permitting flow of liquid through the meter only when the pressure in the meter is at least equal to said minimum pressure.

3. In a system for dispensing metered quantities oi a volatile liquid under variable temperature conditions, the combination comprising a pump, a liquid meter communicating with the discharge of said pump, a container in heat exchange relation with the liquid in the immediate vicinity of the meter, said container containing a volatile control liquid, and a control valve responsive to the vapor pressure of the control liquid for determining the minimum pressure in the meter during the .metering of said liquid, said valve permitting now oi liquid through the meter only when the pressure in the meter is at least equal to said minimum pressure.

4. In a system for dispensing volatile liquids, the combination comprising a pump. a liquid meter in the discharge of said pump, a container in the immediate vicinity of the meter containing a. volatile control liquid in heat exchange with the liquid being dispensed, 'and a control valve responsive to the difference between the pressure in them'eter and the vapor pressure oi the control liquid to permit iiow of liquid through the meter only when the meter pressure exceeds thevapor pressure of the control liquid.

5. In a system for dispensing volatile liquids, the combination comprising a pump; a liquid meter communicating with the discharge of said pump; a control valve in the discharge of the meter for cutting ofi' iiow through the meter when the pressure in the meter is less than a predetermined metering pressure; a differential pressure actuated means for operating the control valve and containing a volatile control liquid,

the liquid from a source of supply through a nietering zone sublect to variations in temperature. maintaining a volatile control liquid at the temperature of the metering zone, said control liquid having substantially the same vapor pressure characteristics as the liquid dispensed, balancing the pressure in the metering zone against the vapor pressureof the control liquid, and so controlling the discharge from the metering zone in accordance with the vapor pressure of the cont-rol liquid as to allow passage ot liquid through the metering zone only when the pressure ln the metering zone is in excess of the vapor pressure of the liquid being metered.

8. The method oi dispensing metered quantities of a volatile liquid lunder variable `temperature conditions which comprises passing the liquid to be dispensed through a metering zone, maintaining a volatile control liquid in heat exchange relation with the liquid dispensed in the immediate vicinity of the meter, said control liquid having substantially the' same vapor pressure within the rangeof temperature variations as has the liquid dispensed, balancing the pressure in the metering zone against the vapor pressure oi the control liquid. and so controlling the discharge from the metering zone in accordance with the vapor pressure of the control liquid as to allow passage of liquid through the metering zone only when the pressure'in the metering zone is in' excess oi' the vapor pressure oi' the liquid being metered. ,f i

9. The method oi dispensing metered quantities of a volatile liquid under variable temperature conditions which comprises passing the liquid tol be dispensed through a metering zone, maintaining a, voiatii control liquid in neat exchange relation with fthe liquid dispensed in the the vapor pressure of which determines said predetermined metering pressure; and means for subjecting the pressure actuated means to the meter pressure in opposition to the vapor pressure of the control liquid to maintain the valve open when the meter pressure is in excess of .the predetermined pressure.

6. Aregulator valve for use in a pumping system comprising a valve body having an inlet and outlet; a valve seat in the valve body; a valve disk cooperating with the valve seat in valve closing position, any pressure at'the valve inlet in excess of that at the valve outlet tending to urge the valve disk away from the valve seat into valve opening position; a pressure responsive element; a resilient connecting means between the valve disk and the pressure responsive element; means for transmitting the inlet and outlet pressures to opposite sides of the pressure responsive element, the pressure responsive-element tending to urgethe valve disk into closed immediate vicinity ofithe meter, the control liquid being more voiatiit than the liquid dispensed, opposing the pressure in the metering zone to the vapor pressure o! the control liquid. and so controlling the discharge from the metering zone rf in accordance with the vapor pressure of the control liquid as to allow passage ot liquid through the metering zone only when the pressure in the metering zone is in excess oi' the vapor pressure oi' the control liquid.

10. A control valve for use with volatileliquids l comprising a. valve body having an inlet and outlet, a valve in the valve body. a diaphragm motor operably connected to'said valve. a control coinpartment adjacent the diaphragm containing a volatile control liquid having substantially the same vapor pressure characteristics as the volatile liquid controlled by the valve, a fluid compertinent opposed to the control compartment. and means for transmitting fluid pressure and temperature at the inlet of the valve body to the iluid compartment, said duid pressure acting on the diaphragm motor in opposition to the vapor pressure oi the volatile control liquid in the conposition in response to pressure at the valve inlet in excess o! that at the valve outlet; and lresilient means opposing the action of such excess pressure to urge the valve disk into valve opening position. v

7. The method of dispensing metered quantities or a volatile liquid which comprises passing sive to the differential between the iluid pressure in said inlet andY outlet to open the valve when the pressure difieren is less than a first predetermined'value an close the valve when the dinerential rises abo said value, said means including means urging the' valve toward its seat and yieldsbls to permit tbs valve to be opened by a rise in the presre diierentialabove a second predetermined value.

12. A regulatorcomprising a body member having a uid inlet and a iiuid outlet; a valve in said body member for controlling the ow of fluid between the inlet and outlet thereof; a chamber in said body member; a movable partition across said chamber, said partition moving in one direction in response to a predetermined pressure dierence between the pressure upstream of said -inlet and the pressure downstream vof said outlet; and means for closing the valve upon predetermined movement of the partition in said direction, said valve moving into open position against -the' action of said last named means when the pressure difference between the pressure upstream of said inlet and the pressure downstream of said outlet reaches a predetermined value higher than that of said rst 'mentioned predetermined pressure difference.

13. In a system of the character described, the combination comprisingia storage tank, a pump, means for supplying liquid from the storage tank to the pump, ameter, a discharge conduit from the pump to the meter, a second conduit arranged to receive liquid discharged from the pump and conduct it to the storage tank, a regusacaste i@ l y 15. In a system of the character described, the combination comprising a storage tank, a pump,

means for supplying liquid from the storage tank' to the pump, a meter, a discharge conduit from the pump to the meter, a second conduit arranged to receive liquid discharged from the pump and lator including a'valve in said second conduit,

and means forming part of said regulator and responsive to the dinerential between 'the pump discharge pressure and the pressure in the storage tank to open the regulator valve when the pressure differential is less than a first prede1 termined value and close the valve when the dif- .the pump discharge pressure and the pressure :in vthe liquid container to open the regulator valve when the pressure dierential is less than a rst predetened value and close the valve when conduct it to the storage tank, a regulator includa ing a valve in said second conduit yand means forming part oi said regulator and responsive to the differential between the pump discharge press ure and the pressure in the storage tank to open the valve when the pressure diierential is less than a r'st predetermined value and close the valve when the differential rises above said value, the second mentioned means including means urging the valve toward its seat and yieldable to permit the valve to be opened by a rise V in the pressure diierential above a second predetermined value, and meansA responsive to the vapor pressureiof a control liquid subjected to the meter temperaturezfor determining the minimum pressure maintained on the .meter during normal operation ofthe dispensing system and for permitting lilow of liquid through the meter only when thepreSSure in the meter is at least equal'to said minimum pressure.

16. In a system of the character described,v

the combination comprising a storage tankfa pump,k means for supplying liquid from the storage tank to the pump, a meter. a discharge conduit from the pump to the meter, a control liquid in heat exchange with the liquid passing through the meter, a control valve responsive to n the second mentioned means including means for -ur' the valve toward its seat and yieldable to the diierential rises above said value, said means including means urging the valve toward its seat and yieidable to permit the valve to be opened by a rise inthepressure dierentiai above a second predeteed vaine.

mined value..

the vapor pressure of the control liquid for deter mining the minimum pressure at which liquidpasses through the meter, said valve permitting flow of liquid through the meter only when the pressure in the meter is at least equal to said minimum pressure, a second conduit arranged to receive liquid discharged from thepump and 'conduct it to the storage' tank, a regulator including a valve in said second conduit and means forming prof said regulator and responsive to the differential between the pump discharge pressure and the pressure in the storage tank to open the valve when the pressure diderential is less than a first predetermined value and close the valve when the pressure rises above said value..

permit the valve to be opened by a rise in the pressure diderential above a second predeter 

